Method and system for cooling and effecting a change in state of a liquid mixture

Abstract

A method and system for cooling and effecting a change of state of a liquid mixture, wherein the liquid mixture is atomized to form an atomized liquid mixture, which is cooled to change its physical state, the cooling being performed using substantially gaseous coolant.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A system for cooling and effecting a change in state of a liquid mixture, the system comprising atomizing means for atomizing a liquid mixture to form an atomized liquid mixture, cooling means for cooling the atomized liquid mixture to form a cooled mixture having a physical state other than the liquid state, the cooling means employing substantially gaseous coolant means, the atomizing means being ultrasonic atomizing means, collecting means for collecting the cooled mixture, the atomizing means, cooling means and collecting means being located successively in that order along a given path, the atomizing means having an outlet having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the path, the cooling means comprising at least one nozzle arranged about the longitudinal axis for releasing the coolant means, each nozzle having a respective longitudinal first axis, each nozzle being adjustable about the first axis and about two axes perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the path extends in a substantially vertical direction. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2  further comprising freeze drying means for substantially dehydrating the cooled mixture. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3  wherein the freeze drying means comprise a freeze drying tunnel, the collecting means feeding the cooled mixture continuously through the freeze drying tunnel. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 2  further comprising bacteria eliminating means for eliminating bacteria in the liquid mixture, feed means for feeding the liquid mixture to the bacteria eliminating means at a first pressure substantially greater than atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5  wherein the bacteria eliminating means comprise ultrasonic means. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  further comprising further feed means for feeding the liquid mixture to the atomizing means at a second pressure substantially different from the first pressure. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 2  wherein the liquid mixture is selected from the group consisting of food, cosmetic, drug, fertilizer, detergent, catalyst, enzyme and parasiticide liquids. 
     
     
       9. A method for cooling and effecting a change in state of a liquid mixture, the method comprising: atomizing a liquid mixture to form an automized liquid mixture using ultrasonic atomizing means having a selected vibration frequency and a selected vibration amplitude; cooling the atomized liquid mixture to form a cooled mixture having a physical state other than the liquid state using substantially gaseous coolant means; collecting the cooled mixture, performing the atomizing, cooling and collecting successively along a given path, flowing the liquid mixture, atomized liquid mixture and cooled mixture continuously along the path, and, providing the atomizing means with an outlet having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the path, and, cooling the atomized mixture by releasing the coolant means, using one or more nozzles, arranged about the longitudinal axis, each nozzle having a longitudinal first axis and being adjustable about the first axis and about two axes perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein the liquid mixture, atomized liquid mixture and cooled mixture flow by gravity along the path. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  further comprising selectively controlling the physical state of the cooled mixture by adjusting a supply of the coolant means. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  wherein the vibration frequency ranges between 15 kHz and 150 kHz. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10  wherein, during atomizing, micronizing the liquid mixture into drops having diameters falling within a given range of diameters, controlling the range of diameters by regulating the vibration frequently and/or vibration amplitude. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10  further comprising freeze drying the cooled mixture to substantially dehydrate the cooled mixture. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10  further comprising eliminating bacteria in the liquid mixture. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10  further comprising eliminating bacteria in the liquid mixture using further ultrasonic means and feeding the liquid mixture to the further ultrasonic means at a first pressure substantially greater than atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  further comprising feeding the liquid mixture to the ultrasonic atomizing means at a second pressure substantially different from the first pressure. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10  further comprising having a solid-state component dispersed in the liquid mixture, microencapsulating the solid-state component in drops during atomizing, the drops having diameters falling within a given range of diameters, controlling the range of diameters by regulating the vibration frequently and/or vibration amplitude. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 10  wherein the liquid mixture is selected from the group consisting of food, cosmetic, drug, fertilizer, detergent, catalyst, enzyme and parasiticide liquids.